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It is learnt that his chances of playing the second Test are low

Sidharth Monga27-Jun-20252:01

How might India shape their attack for second Test?

India returned to the nets on Friday after their travel from Leeds to Birmingham and a day off with a marathon training session of close to five hours.While Jasprit Bumrah came to the ground, he didn’t bowl or bat in the nets. As it was a closed-door training session, it was not possible to tell whether Bumrah was doing fitness work or bowling alone inside the ground. The nets session, though, was visible from the street. Bumrah’s absence in the nets should not be a sign by itself because all three main fast bowlers from the last match – Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj – stayed away from batting. Siraj had a hit with the bat before he went off to join Bumrah and Prasidh inside the ground.ESPNcricinfo, however, has learnt that Bumrah’s chances of playing at Edgbaston are low. India picked him aware that he was going to be available for only three of the five Tests against England. The pre-decided combination, apparently, was the first and the third Test, and then a choice between the fourth and the fifth based on the state of the series. There are big gaps between the first and the second, and the third and the fourth Tests.Related

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However, it must be said that he hasn’t yet been ruled out entirely for Edgbaston. The discussions around the combination have yet to begin, and if Bumrah feels good about his body, he could well turn up for the Test, which begins on Wednesday. India will have an optional training session on Saturday followed by a day off and then another long session on Monday.Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep bowled long spells in the nets. Arshdeep spent almost half the nets session bowling with an old, somewhat “made” ball. With the old ball, he went around the wicket to the right-hand batters. This could have been something India decided to do after looking at the conditions. They could well be expecting reverse swing to be a factor.The general mood in the camp is to not overthink the defeat at Headingley, where they repeatedly got themselves in positions to dominate, but let it slip away. The message is to not make dramatic changes to how they play, but repeat the processes to get into strong positions again and then react better.

Graham Potter is reportedly on the verge of making a stunning return to management with the Swedish national team. The former Chelsea and West Ham boss has openly admitted his “feelings” for Sweden and is said to be the frontrunner to replace Jon Dahl Tomasson, who was sacked after a disastrous World Cup qualifying campaign left the Scandinavian side bottom of their group.

• Potter to join Sweden

  As per Swedish outlet, AftonBladet, Potter is closing in on a sensational international move as Sweden’s new manager following the dismissal of Tomasson. The Swedish FA (SvFF) confirmed the head coach’s sacking after a humiliating 1-0 defeat to Kosovo — their fourth consecutive game without a win — left the national team at the bottom of Group B in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

  Chairman Simon Astrom said the decision was driven by the need for “new leadership” to revive hopes of qualification through a potential playoff route in March. Potter, who has been out of work since leaving West Ham last month, is now the leading candidate to take over on a short-term basis. His appointment would reunite him with a country where he previously enjoyed remarkable success during his seven-year tenure at Ostersunds FK. The deal, if finalised, would see Potter tasked with salvaging Sweden’s faltering World Cup campaign and rekindling national pride.

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  Sweden's World Cup qualifying disaster

  Sweden’s World Cup qualifying campaign has spiralled into chaos, prompting the first managerial dismissal in the country’s history. Their shock loss to Kosovo, compounded by a 2-0 home defeat to Switzerland, has left the team’s hopes hanging by a thread. Despite boasting Premier League stars like Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, and Lucas Bergvall, the team has failed to produce results under Tomasson’s leadership.

  SvFF head Kim Kallstrom stated that while the team retains potential, “football is results-based, and we have reached a point where results are not enough.” Potter’s potential appointment represents both a return to familiar territory and a bid for redemption following difficult spells at Chelsea and West Ham.

• Potter's Swedish history

  Potter’s links to Swedish football run deep, and his affection for the nation has been well-documented. Speaking to Fotbollskanalen earlier this week, the 50-year-old said: “I’m open to anything where I feel I can help. The job as manager for the Swedish national team is fantastic. I have feelings for Sweden. I love the country and I love Swedish football. I have a lot to be grateful for towards Swedish football.” It was in Sweden that Potter rose to prominence, famously taking Ostersunds FK from the fourth division to the top flight and into European competition. His innovative methods — blending tactical sophistication with player development and off-field cultural activities — earned him plaudits across Europe.

  After leaving Ostersund in 2018, he managed Swansea and Brighton before high-pressure stints at Chelsea and West Ham. Although his reputation took a hit following a poor run of results in London, his admiration for Sweden and its football culture has remained unwavering, making this potential reunion as much emotional as professional.

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• (C)Getty Images
  

  What comes next?

  Sweden’s immediate priority is to secure a playoff path to the 2026 World Cup, and Potter’s arrival could inject the belief and structure required to make that possible. The national team’s Nations League ranking still offers a glimmer of hope — if six higher-ranked teams qualify automatically, Sweden could gain a second chance to reach the finals.

  For Potter, this opportunity represents a fresh start after a difficult chapter in English football. His brief tenure at West Ham ended in disappointment, winning just six of 25 matches and leaving the Hammers 19th in the Premier League. However, his track record of rebuilding teams and instilling a clear identity could prove invaluable on the international stage.

  If appointed, Potter would inherit a squad with technical quality but fragile confidence — and with figures like Isak, Gyokeres, and Victor Lindelof at his disposal, the foundations are strong. A successful short-term turnaround could not only resurrect Sweden’s World Cup hopes but also rebuild Potter’s managerial reputation.

Cesc Fabregas showed just how much his side’s stunning win over Juventus meant to him as cameras captured the Como boss delivering a passionate post-match speech to his players on the pitch. The Arsenal and Chelsea icon, who has guided the Serie A underdogs to sixth place, was visibly emotional as he told his players that he is “f*cking proud” of them.

Como pull off major upset against Juventus

Como claimed one of their most memorable victories in decades, defeating Italian heavyweights Juventus 2-0 in front of a jubilant Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia crowd. Marc-Oliver Kempf’s early volley and Nico Paz’s dazzling solo strike secured a result that lifted Fabregas’s side above Juve in the Serie A table. The triumph marked Como’s first league win over the Bianconeri in 73 years, underlining the club’s remarkable resurgence.

After the game, Fabregas huddled together with his players and staff on the field and gave a rousing team talk to reiterate how “proud” he was of his side as they look to challenge for European football in what is only their second season in the top flight.

AdvertisementWatch Fabregas' passionate speechComo's meteoric rise and Fabregas' role in it

The result was another milestone in a dream 2025-26 campaign for Como, who continue to defy expectations in their second season back in Serie A. Under Fabregas’s full-time management, the team has developed a reputation for attacking football, dictated by a lot of flair but also stability in the ranks. Central to their success has been 21-year-old Nico Paz, who now has four goals and four assists in seven games -meaning he has contributed to eight of Como’s nine league strikes so far this season.

Speaking about Paz after the win over Juventus, Fabregas told the media: “I thank [Arsene Wenger] because at 16 he believed in me, just as I believe in Nico Paz, who is a champion. I’m very confident about his future because I can recognise when a player has the mindset to become a top player. If he continues like this, he can go wherever he wants.”

Fabregas’s tactical philosophy, honed under Wenger, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, has given Como a distinctive identity built on possession play and relentless intensity. His leadership has also proved crucial off the field, attracting promising young players and reenergising a fanbase that has endured decades of hardship. From once languishing in Serie D to defeating one of Italy’s most decorated clubs, Como’s journey has been a testament to ambition and belief.

The club’s transformation is also tied to their ownership by Indonesia’s Djarum Group, which stabilised finances and invested smartly in infrastructure and scouting. Fabregas’s arrival accelerated that vision – his global experience, coaching nous, and charisma uniting the project. The win against Juventus was not just three points; it was a symbolic statement that Como’s rise is no fluke, and that the club now belongs among Italy’s elite.

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Getty ImagesComo look to continue on upward trajectory

Como will look to build on their historic victory when they take on Parma at Ennio Tardini Stadium, as Fabregas’s men aim to continue their strong domestic form. The Lariani sit sixth in the Serie A table, level on points with fifth-placed Bologna but ahead of Juventus on goal difference. Fabregas, however, is likely to keep his players grounded, insisting that consistency and humility must remain central to their progress.

With Paz in sublime form and the squad visibly buying into their coach’s philosophy, the club’s top-half aspirations appear increasingly realistic. For Fabregas, each passing week further cements his reputation as one of Europe’s most promising young managers.

Ipswich Town are now looking to sign a 37-cap England international, who could be a key player in Kieran McKenna’s promotion push, it has been revealed.

Ipswich looking to make new signing after slow start

After being relegated from the Premier League last season, Ipswich were expected to push for an immediate return to the top flight, but it would be fair to say they have made a slow start to the Championship campaign.

The Tractor Boys sit 20th in the standings, having failed to win any of their opening four matches, despite spending heavily in the summer, with Sindre Walle Egeli and Kasey McAteer among their most expensive new signings.

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Despite the poor start, there is still plenty of time for McKenna’s side to turn things around, and Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom believes they will be in the mix for promotion: “They recruited Championship ready players in League One, recruited only one or two more and then went up; didn’t go away from their ethos when they recruited again in the Premier League, and there were moments where we thought they were going to stay up. So, there’s not too much difference there.”

“I think that will hold them in good stead.”

However, according to a report from Spain, Ipswich have already set their sights on another new signing to boost their promotion chances, having joined the race for Dele Alli, who recently became a free agent after leaving Serie A side Como.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have also been credited with an interest in Alli, who has struggled to turn his career around since leaving Tottenham Hotspur, making just one appearance during his time with Como.

The attacking midfielder’s availability without a transfer fee makes him an appealing option, however, with a move to Portman Road offering the 29-year-old the chance to be a key player for a promotion-chasing Championship side.

Alli would be risky signing for Ipswich

At his peak, the former Tottenham star was a force to be reckoned with, scoring 51 Premier League goals during his time in north London, while also cementing himself as an England regular, picking up 37 caps.

Season

PL appearances

Goal contributions

2015-16

33

18

2016-17

37

27

2017-18

36

19

However, due to well-documented personal problems, the Milton Keynes-born midfielder has since struggled to rediscover his best form, having failed to make an impact at Everton, Besiktas or Como.

As such, it would be a gamble for Ipswich to take a chance on the former England regular, especially considering he has also struggled on the injury front, missing a whopping 45 games due to a muscle tear across spells with Everton and Besiktas.

Of course, if Alli were able to get back to his best, he would be a fantastic signing for Ipswich, but it has been a long time since the attacking midfielder was a Premier League star.

England captain on the comeback trail following hamstring surgery earlier this year

Vithushan Ehantharajah24-Feb-2025

Ben Stokes will not be taking part in the Hundred this summer as he manages his fitness ahead of an Ashes series in Australia which will define his England captaincy.ESPNcricinfo has learned that Stokes made the decision based on his upcoming schedule after consultation with Andrew Flintoff, who took over as Northern Superchargers’ men’s coach last year. He is currently recovering from surgery to his left hamstring, an injury he first sustained playing for the Superchargers last August, before suffering a recurrence during the third Test against New Zealand in December.The Hundred begins on August 5, a day after England are due to finish a five-match Test series against India. With the Ashes to come later this year, starting in Perth on November 21, Stokes has taken the decision to preserve himself for those challenges.The move is understandably cautious from Stokes. The initial hamstring tear, sustained while batting for the Superchargers against Manchester Originals in his third appearance of 2024’s competition, ruled him out of three Test matches against Sri Lanka and the first of three against Pakistan at the start of the winter.Having “ruined” himself to recover – to the point he felt he had to apologise to his teammates for making them “tread on eggshells” around him – a further setback while bowling in New Zealand meant another three months on the sidelines. It subsequently ruled him out of a lucrative deal with MI Cape Town in the SA20.The news will be warmly received by Test fans, particularly with England’s focus on winning back the urn in Australia. Much of their success on that tour, and in the summer against India, will hinge on Stokes’ ability to operate as a fully functioning allrounder, a role he was able to reprise at the start of last summer following successful knee surgery at the end of 2023. Stokes is expected to be fit for the start of this season, ahead of England’s one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, which begins on May 22.Related

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The loss of a player of Stokes’ profile is a blow to the Hundred in its transitional year, fresh off the recent sale of its eight teams, which were valued in total at a combined £975 million. The Superchargers are being bought by the Sun Group, who own Sunrisers Hyderabad, who will become 100% owners of the franchise after Yorkshire opted to cash in their stake.Harry Brook, who captained the Superchargers last year, will replace Stokes as their designated centrally-contracted player for the 2025 season on a contract now worth £200,000. ESPNcricinfo understands that Stokes will remain close with the franchise, who will look to retain his services going forward.The Superchargers have a new director of cricket this year after Mickey Arthur replaced Marcus North in the role, and are expected to announce the direct signing of South Africa’s David Miller on Tuesday as one of their retentions from last year. Graham Clark, the Durham batter, has also been retained after his success in the Bangladesh Premier League last month.Stokes’ withdrawal follows that of Moeen Ali, who announced earlier on Monday that he would not be featuring for Birmingham Phoenix as he prepares to retire from English domestic cricket later this year.

Alyssa Healy will resume wicketkeeping duties for Australia in the Ashes series opener, Sunday’s first ODI against England in Sydney.But Healy, Australia’s captain who has been nursing a knee injury since mid-November, admitted that a tight schedule of seven matches – including a four-day Test – in the space of 22 days might mean some rotation of personnel through the series, which starts with three ODIs followed by three T20s.”Yeah, good to go,” a beaming Healy told reporters of her ability to keep after a practice session at North Sydney Oval, less than 24 hours before the series start at the same venue.Related

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“Probably I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t any doubt, in particular off the back of a rough couple of months, but everything’s progressed probably just as well as we would have hoped. I’m feeling really good.”More importantly, I’m feeling really confident on it to be able to get out there and do that job. I wouldn’t be doing it if I felt like I was going to let the team down. I’m really excited to get back out there tomorrow.”Healy has endured a tough run with injury since October, when she ruptured the plantar fascia in her in her right foot while running between the wickets during Australia’s group game against Pakistan at the T20 World Cup.She then suffered a knee problem while playing for the Sydney Sixers in the WBBL, ruling her out of Australia’s home one-dayers against India and she played as a batter only on the subsequent ODI tour of New Zealand with Beth Mooney standing in behind the stumps for both series.On Saturday, Healy trained with the gloves alongside Mooney at slip with Georgia Voll, the 21-year-old opening batter who impressed on international debut against India in her place, feeding balls off the bat.Voll has 173 runs at 86.50 and a strike rate of 108.80 from her three ODIs, including a century in just her second game against India. But Healy’s recovery leaves Australia with just one selection choice to make between quick Darcie Brown and Georgia Wareham as an extra spinner.Having proved herself such a valuable option at the top of the order, including fifty opening alongside Healy in the washed-out Ashes warm-up between England and a Governor General’s XI, Voll could slot in at any time Healy needs to rest though.Alyssa Healy will be back behind the stumps at the start of the Ashes•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

“It’s a valid question, and I don’t know the answer to that just yet,” Healy said when asked if she had recovered enough to play all Ashes fixtures. “I think it’s just going to depend on how I pull up after each and every opportunity.”But obviously we know we’ve got a pretty handy back-up that’s ready to do the job, and I know that I can run around in the field quite confidently as well, so we’ll just play it by ear. From my perspective, I’d love to be out there keeping every game, but we’ll just have to see how the body goes.”England have one key decision to make over their bowling line-up depending on how dependable seamer Kate Cross pulls up from their match-eve training session after battling a back injury. Cross broke down with back spasms during last month’s tour of South Africa and scans subsequently revealed a slightly bulging disc that required an epidural over the Christmas period.”Obviously Crossy’s struggling a little bit with a back issue, she’s going to have a little bowl today and we’ll make a final decision once we’ve had a look at the wicket and seen where everyone’s at post-training,” Heather Knight, England’s captain, said on Saturday.England have a number of seam options including Lauren Bell who returned from South Africa with 12 wickets, eight of those in the Test, and Lauren Filer, whom Knight backed to provide an added dimension with her speed despite struggling with her footing on a soggy North Sydney pitch during the warm-up game, which Knight put down purely to the conditions.”The bounce that she gets and the speed that she bowls at is really tricky,” Knight said of Filer, who surprised the Australians with her speed on her international debut in the 2023 Ashes Test, where she took two wickets in each innings. “Facing her in the nets is not a particularly pleasant experience, I’ll tell you that, and I think since that 2023 series she’s really grown.”She’s improved her consistency, she’s added a few skills to her game as well. She was really raw in that series and really made an impact so she’s one of a number of bowlers that are going to contribute throughout this series.”She’s certainly someone that bowls wicket-taking balls and that’s what we want her to do. Accepting sometimes she’s going to go for runs, that’s completely fine, that’s not her job. Her job is to come in and take poles and try and ruffle a few feathers so I’m excited to watch her bowl for sure.”England XI (possible): Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight (capt), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones (wk), Alice Capsey/Sophia Dunkley, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell, Lauren Filer/Kate CrossAustralia XI (possible): Alyssa Healy (capt, wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown/Georgia Wareham

Sunderland fans would have been preparing for a new dawn this time last season as Regis Le Bris entered the Championship side’s dug-out.

Nobody would have quite anticipated, just a year on, that the Black Cats would be dining at the illustrious Premier League table for the 2025/26 campaign, with the likes of Granit Xhaka raring to go in Sunderland red and white as West Ham United travel to Wearside.

Arthur Masuaku will also be excited by the prospect of potentially lining up against his former employers on the opening day, with even more new signings expected through the door before September’s early cut-off.

Sunderland show interest in £26m forward

The hope is that the early-season performances won’t be too disjointed, as Sunderland’s ten new recruits try to hit the ground running in such a daunting division immediately.

More quality may be needed to ensure the step-up doesn’t swallow Le Bris and Co whole, with centre-back target Loic Bade one presence who could really boost the Frenchman’s options defensively, having been on Sunderland’s radar for some time now.

The top-flight newcomers also look set to announce Omar Alderete as their staggering 11th buy of the summer, meaning Le Bris’ centre-back options will be enhanced for definite when a £10m deal for the 28-year-old to join from Getafe is officially announced.

The attack could also be sprinkled with more quality if Sunderland secure the services of Bayer Leverkusen star Amine Adli shortly, with a report from German outlet Kicker speculating that the Black Cats hold interest in the 25-year-old winger, among other suitors.

Kicker states that both Marseille and AFC Bournemouth are also keen on landing the Leverkusen speedster, who is reportedly available for a fee around the £26m region.

With Sunderland’s excessive spending on full display all across the summer to date, this shouldn’t be an eye-watering amount to fork out for Adli, especially if he becomes Le Bris’ own version of Jack Clarke that helps Sunderland to navigate the step-up more comfortably.

How Adli could become Le Bris' own Clarke at Sunderland

Unfortunately, Clarke would hop off the Black Cats train before he could bask in the glory of a promotion.

Still, he left a lasting impact on the Stadium of Light masses during his lengthy stay on Wearside, as seen in him tallying up an impressive 28 goals and 23 assists from 114 games, even as his team regularly faltered in their hunt for a return to the top-flight.

Now, Le Bris will hope he can strike gold on another entertaining, gung-ho winger in the same mould as Clarke in Adli, with the 25-year-old already being dubbed as “electric” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig for his ability to bomb forward with ease.

Often lining up down Clarke’s trusty left-hand side, the Moroccan forward has become a staple of many a Leverkusen side since his move from Toulouse in 2021, with Adli now ready to take the English game by storm as a versatile trickster under Le Bris’ wing.

LW

37

5

11

SS

26

6

3

CF

20

5

2

RW

19

4

3

AM

13

0

3

RM

1

0

0

CM

1

0

0

While 16 of Adli’s overall 47 goal contributions for the Bundesliga giants have been on this left flank, he will also be a valued member of the Frenchman’s camp moving forward for his prowess to line up as an attacking midfielder and as a striker if needed.

After all, Clarke also possessed this same adaptability in spurts, with two of his career goals on Wearside coming from an unusual centre-forward role.

On top of that, Adli has had to deal with the pressures of being in the Leverkusen spotlight since a very early age, much like what Clarke had to come to terms with when lining up for Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur, before coming out of the other side of these disruptive spells with Sunderland.

Further lauded as “sensational” for his direct approach by U23 scout Antonio Mango, this does feel like a signing that would really enhance an already captivating Black Cats forward line, particularly if the 25-year-old attacker goes on to be as revered as Clarke before him.

Another Le Fee-level signing: Sunderland in the mix to sign £26m "animal"

Sunderland could secure another statement buy by landing this rampaging £26m attacker.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 7, 2025

Nottingham Forest have now joined the race for an “outstanding” defender, and owner Evangelos Marinakis knows the director of his current club very well, according to a report.

Forest set sights on new defender after bolstering attacking options

Securing Morgan Gibbs-White’s future was arguably as important as making any new signing, with Forest no longer facing the difficult prospect of finding a replacement for the attacking midfielder, and they are also set to bolster their wide options.

The Tricky Trees are now set to sign Bologna’s Dan Ndoye, who is set to replace Anthony Elanga following the Sweden international’s move to Newcastle United, but the 24-year-old is not the only winger in Nuno’s sights.

That is according to reporter John Percy, who has revealed the Portuguese manager is now looking to seal a reunion with one of his former players alongside Ndoye.

As such, Nuno’s attacking options are now shaping up nicely, which means the 51-year-old’s next task at hand may be to improve his backline, and a new target has now entered the frame.

That is according to a report from Espreso, which reveals Nottitngham Forest have now entered the race for Red Star Belgrade defender Veljko Milosavljević, who has also attracted interest from the likes of AFC Bournemouth, Everton and Celtic.

Marinakis is said to be good friends with Red Star Belgrade director Zvezdan Terzić, which indicates the Forest owner could play a key role in the negotiations, and there is a feeling he could loan Milosavljević out to Olympiacos initially.

There is a huge chance the Red Star Belgrade defender leaves the Serbian club before September 1st, and his price tag is set to be around €10m – €15m (£9m – £13m).

"Outstanding" Milosavljević could go on to be top defender

The 18-year-old is yet to prove himself outside of Serbia, but the teenager’s exploits in his home country indicate he could go on to be a top defender, with scout Gianni Bellasi being left particularly impressed by his performances.

Bellasi has also praised the youngster for his “outstanding” positioning, and he has already managed to force himself into the Red Star Belgrade first team, racking up a total of 22 appearances.

That said, while Milosavljević is clearly a very talented young player, it would make sense to send him out on a loan deal initially, and a move to Olympiacos could be ideal, given that it would, of course, be very easy for Marinakis to arrange.

Derby County are readying themselves for another campaign in the Championship and could now be set to push the boat out for an experienced midfielder, according to reports.

Derby County look for stability under John Eustace

John Eustace performed a minor miracle by keeping Derby in the EFL Championship last campaign and will hope his array of proven arrivals can help his side enjoy a more productive season at Pride Park.

Andreas Weimann, Danny Batth, Richard O’Donnell and Carlton Morris have all come through the door to breathe new life into a squad in need of material upgrades.

Former boss Paul Warne believes Morris could provide a steady source of goals after arriving from Luton Town, as he stated: “We signed Carlton as a young lad from Norwich and he did really well.

“He came in with a really competitive front line. At the time of his second spell, I had Michael Smith, Freddie Ladapo and Kyle Vassell, so it was some frontline. He played in numerous positions across the front for me, and he can play as the lone striker or in a two.

“He’s very good with his back to goal, really strong in the air, he’s brave, and obviously can score goals too.”

Eustace has made a habit of calling on former players himself, so it won’t come as a surprise that Derby are targeting Blackburn Rovers defender Callum Brittain as he heads into the last year of his deal at Ewood Park.

Derby now set to sign "fantastic" star in £7m package after Batth & Weimann

He looks set to become their fifth signing of the summer.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 4, 2025

Finding established stars with a history of excelling in the second-tier appears to be the priority for the Rams, who are now targeting an ambitious move for another recognisable name.

Derby County looking to sign Ipswich Town star Sam Morsy

According to reliable reporter Alan Nixon on his Patreon, relayed by The 72, Derby are now keen to sign Ipswich Town midfielder Sam Morsy as they prepare for another busy campaign.

The Egypt international earns £30,000 per week at Portman Road and made 34 appearances for the Tractor Boys last term, scoring once and laying on an assist.

Sam Morsy’s history of winning league titles

League Two

Chesterfield Town (2013/14)

League One

Wigan Athletic (2015/16)

League One

Wigan Athletic (2017/18)

In addition to his three titles with Chesterfield and Wigan, Morsy has also captained Ipswich to promotion from League One and the Championship, while he played a part in Port Vale’s rise to League One in 2012/13.

Ultimately, the Wolverhampton-born man has a clear track record of helping to elevate clubs in the Football League system, making him a shrewd potential addition at Derby due to his leadership qualities and drive on the pitch.

Nevertheless, overseas sides are also attentive to his situation, so it remains to be seen whether the Rams can force the hand of Ipswich before rival suitors take advantage of the fact he has one year left on his contract.

Vikram Rathour, India’s batting coach till the end of the T20 World Cup 2024, isn’t “too concerned” about the period of transition the team is heading towards, but wants the team management to handle it “in a controlled manner”.India’s next series is in Sri Lanka, where they will play three T20Is and three ODIs, and the T20I team will definitely be a new one, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja having retired after India beat South Africa to win the T20 World Cup trophy in Barbados last month.”It is never going to be easy to replace people of Rohit and Virat’s calibre,” Rathour told PTI. “The recently-concluded [T20I] series against Zimbabwe gave us some glimpse into how the T20 team will look like in future. But we still have a few years in Test and ODI cricket to get to that point.”Related

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• Onus on India's present to link their past and future in T20s

• Dube and Abhishek herald end to India's batting allrounder issue

India won that series 4-1 with Shubman Gill at the helm and only three members of the World Cup squad – Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube and Yashasvi Jaiswal – in the ranks, that too only for the last three games. The team was coached by VVS Laxman, who was in charge in an interim capacity, with Gautam Gambhir, the long-term replacement for Rahul Dravid, set to move into the position starting with the Sri Lanka tour. His team of coaches has not been named yet.”I won’t be too concerned about it [the transition],” Rathour said. “We have a lot of depth in Indian cricket. There are lots of very talented and skilful players who are coming through the system. The only thing we need to make sure is the transition is done in a controlled manner. It needs to be gradual.”Rathour feels that with so many young players coming through, India have the men they need to form the core of the side, across formats, for the next decade.”I am hoping that by then, players like Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, to name a few, would establish themselves and will make the transition smooth,” he said. “In ODIs also, we have experienced players like Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya to take over.”There are many exciting players coming through but these two [Gill and Jaiswal] are equipped to play all three formats for a long time. They are going to be the backbone of Indian batting in years to come.”‘I can’t find any technical reasons why Rinku cannot be a successful Test batter’•Gallo Images/Getty Images

Rathour: Rinku Singh ‘can develop into a Test cricketer’

One of the players to have moved up the ladder in the past two seasons is Rinku Singh, who has played two ODIs and 20 T20Is, but can’t be called a regular in the national side yet. He is a fantastic finisher in short-format cricket, but also averages 54.70 after 69 first-class innings.”When I see him bat in nets, I can’t find any technical reasons why Rinku cannot be a successful Test batter,” Rathour said. “I understand he has made his name as a terrific finisher in T20 cricket but if you look at his first-class record, he is averaging in high 50s.”He is also blessed with a very calm temperament. So all these factors indicate that if given an opportunity, he can develop into a Test cricketer.”

Dravid ‘gives you lots of space to work’

Rathour formed a strong partnership with Dravid in the India backroom. Their relationship, in fact, goes back to the mid-1990s, when they made their international debuts around the same time – ditto for Paras Mhambrey, the bowling coach in the Dravid-led set-up.”Rahul is the best coach that I have worked with, who gives you lots of space to work, is open to suggestions and will provide you an honest feedback,” Rathour said. “One of the first discussions we had was about changing the batting template in T20 cricket. We agreed that we needed to bring in more intent and aggression in our batting approach.”Rathour said a case in point was that of Axar Patel, who fixed their problem of a decent batting option at No. 8. “That made a massive difference and gave the batters in top order lot more freedom to bat.”